Andrew and Sharon Turner want to make a difference

Sharon and Andrew Turner have joined the board replacing vice-chairman Barry Skipper who has sold his shares.

Mr Turner founded a mortgages and loans firm and was named in the Sunday Times Rich List as sixth wealthiest person in East Anglia with a fortune of �275m.

Mr Turner and his wife have given the Canaries an interest free loan of �2m.

The club said they will now not have to sell top players like Robert Earnshaw or Darren Huckerby in the summer.

'Make a difference'

Mr Turner started his business Central Trust in London in 1987 moving to Watford in 1997.

The company set up a second office in Norwich and this now houses its headquarters.

Norwich City FC are in a mid-table position in the Championship in the current season.

Norwich City FC chairman Roger Munby said: "In order to be able to deliver club manager Peter Grant the budget we'd agreed for next season there would have been a �2m shortfall.

"This loan eliminates any possibility of that being the case and we don't have to sell players to make up the balance."

Andrew Turner said: "We've joined as non-executive directors alongside the management team who run the club on a day-to-day basis.

"But our nature is to help, contribute and do something to make a difference - that's why we've come to the club."